Hello Octopus!
26 August 2015 | Bonaire Dive Lenora's Reef
Elizabeth (photo by Ed)
While diving on Lenora's Reef yesterday (off of Klein Bonaire, our favorite site yet) Ed spotted this handsome octopus hiding on a rock, almost missing him. This image was a moment after finding him and he was readying himself for a quick getaway. We have learned to look carefully at everything underwater but have no doubt there's much we miss in spite of our best efforts. Once discovered the Octopus said "I'm outta here!" and darted away, thankfully without releasing his infamous black ink. We followed him for a good while; he was a fast swimmer but we were determined. We used the zoom lens so didn't have to stay right on top of him; we don't like to be underwater pests. This photo was taken from a video so it's not as clear as it might have been otherwise. It was a thrilling sight. Our friends Chris and Paul on s/v Georgia spotted an octopus, a seahorse and flamingos when they were here last year and I was green with envy. Now I am satisfied, except that we have yet to swim with a turtle. Since we've had lots of swims with turtles elsewhere in the Caribbean, I'm letting that one go. Here's some interesting info from the Internet.
"The common octopus would be unique for its appearance alone, with its massive bulbous head, large eyes, and eight distinctive arms. But by far the most striking characteristic of the octopus is the wide array of techniques it uses to avoid or thwart attackers.
Its first--and most amazing--line of defense is its ability to hide in plain sight. Using a network of pigment cells and specialized muscles in its skin, the common octopus can almost instantaneously match the colors, patterns, and even textures of its surroundings. Predators such as sharks, eels, and dolphins swim by without even noticing it.
When discovered, an octopus will release a cloud of black ink to obscure its attacker's view, giving it time to swim away. The ink even contains a substance that dulls a predator's sense of smell, making the fleeing octopus harder to track. Fast swimmers, they can jet forward by expelling water through their mantles. And their soft bodies can squeeze into impossibly small cracks and crevices where predators can't follow.
If all else fails, an octopus can lose an arm to escape a predator's grasp and regrow it later with no permanent damage. They also have beaklike jaws that can deliver a nasty bite, and venomous saliva, used mainly for subduing prey." (National Geographic)